Tapering Off Alcohol How To Taper Wean Off Alcohol Safely

Tapering off is a standard medical practice for many other drugs. For example, healthcare providers usually don’t take patients off antidepressants suddenly; rather, they gradually reduce the dosages. Risky withdrawal symptoms are not limited to the above.3 Learn more about alcohol withdrawal here and, once again, speak to a doctor first. Quitting binge drinking may require different strategies than either tapering or cold turkey. When you taper off alcohol, you are not drinking for pleasure, and your favourite drinks can trigger unwanted drinking. There are also some environmental factors which make it harder to taper off alcohol successfully.

  • From here, you can plan a schedule for gradually reducing how much you drink per day.
  • These conditions account for why it’s best to taper off oxycodone rather than go cold turkey.
  • Because detox is a medical intervention, you should always check the qualifications, experience and registration status of anyone who provides this service.
  • The more aware you are of potential risk factors and your individual needs, the more likely you will  succeed.
  • For some drinkers, cutting down on the amount of alcohol they drink simply does not work.
  • Letting go of the idea of a stop date takes the pressure off you so that you can prioritise your health and wellbeing.

This is especially true if you are suffering from an alcohol use disorder. Addiction alters the chemical balance in a person’s brain, making it extremely difficult to quit drinking alcohol on one’s own. Maybe they don’t have peer support or maybe their alcohol addiction is too severe. Being surrounded by triggers can make it extremely difficult to stay on track and avoid overdoing it on alcohol.

Why Bother With Tapering?

This can cause seizures and delirium tremens, a severe form of withdrawal marked by tremors and hallucinations. If you taper off alcohol slowly or with medical supervision, the brain has time to adapt without causing severe side effects. For those at risk for how to taper off alcohol severe withdrawal symptoms, medically-supervised detox is often the safest choice for beginning their sobriety or moderation journey. Others may discover after consulting with a doctor that it’s safe for them to quit alcohol cold turkey if they choose to.

It also covers some of the different treatment options that are available. With a Master’s Degree from Tufts School of Medicine and Emerson College in Health Communication, Laura has continued to find excitement and challenge in her chosen field. She is also the Board President, BarZero and Board Member of the Colorado Professional Liaison Association. Once you have completely tapered off alcohol, you will have to decide if you want to follow a path of total abstinence or moderate alcohol use.

Creating a plan to safely taper off alcohol

You do not have to have reached a crisis point to check into detox. Eating a healthy diet while you are going through withdrawal may also help aid in digestion and energy levels. This may be helpful for combating withdrawal symptoms such as stomach upset and feelings of fatigue.

Alcohol rehab helps you taper off alcohol, and it treats other side effects and causes of alcoholism. If you’re addicted to alcohol, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to recover without some form of addiction treatment. You may be able to detox at home and recover from alcoholism with the help of support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous. However, medically supervised detox and professional rehab are more likely to help you maintain long-term sobriety. The main difference between tapering and cold turkey is how fast you quit. Cold turkey is a common slang term for quitting alcohol (or any substance) all at once.

Common Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Nanci Stockwell of Advanced Recovery Systems discusses the risks of detoxing at home and the benefits of detoxing from alcohol and other drugs in a safe environment. Tapering can help you overcome alcohol dependence, which is a side effect of chronic alcohol https://ecosoberhouse.com/ use that causes cravings and withdrawal. Detox doesn’t treat addiction, which is a disease characterized by compulsive behaviors, such as chronic alcohol use. But, as many in recovery will tell you, it is only the first chapter in a long process.

using beer to taper off alcohol

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